IDF Mysterious ‘Legitimization Cell’: Unveiling Israel’s Controversial Tactics Against Journalists

IMAGE: (centre) Al Jazeera’s Correspondent in Gaza, Anas al-Sharif, killed by IDF – (right) Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – (left) Head of the IDF Intelligence Directorate (Aman), Maj. Gen. Shlomi Binder

As reported in a post on X by Yuval Abraham, a journalist and filmmaker from Jerusalem who writes for +972 Magazine, in the aftermath of the Oct 7 attack, a faction called the “Legitimisation Cell” was established within AMAN, the Israeli Military Intelligence Directorate, The role of the Agents working within this shadowy cell is to gather evidence to validate the military’s actions in Gaza, which includes unsuccessful Hamas missile launches, the use of human shields, and the exploitation of civilians. According to Yuval, one of the primary goals of the ‘Legitimisation Cell’ is to pinpoint Gazan journalists who could be portrayed in the media as Hamas operatives in disguise. The ‘Cell’ painstakingly examined the profiles of journalists and carried out extensive searches. Although this department invested countless hours in this endeavour, they ultimately found nothing, noted Yuval.

From his perspective, the Jerusalem-based journalist argues that this approach is intended to provide media ‘legitimisation’ for the ongoing killings of journalists, which suggests that Israel’s strategy of sowing doubt is a way to justify atrocities. In other words, labelling a journalist as a ‘Hamas’ operative in disguise effectively distracts from the murder of countless other journalists,” Yuval concludes.

אחרי השבעה באוקטובר באמ”ן הוקם צוות שכונה “תא לגיטימציה”. אנשי מודיעין שחיפשו מידע שיעזור להעניק “לגיטימציה” למעשי הצבא בעזה – שיגורים כושלים של חמאס, שימוש במגנים אנושיים, ניצול האוכלוסייה האזרחית, כל מה שאתם מכירים.

משימה עיקרית של תא הלגיטימציה הייתה למצוא עיתונאים עזתים…

— Yuval Abraham יובל אברהם (@yuval_abraham) August 11, 2025

The IDF’s Intelligence Division, also known as the Military Intelligence Directorate, was created to commemorate the division’s 70th anniversary. This division collaborates with the ‘Israeli Intelligence Community’, which unites all intelligence gathering and research entities in Israel. The Directorate’s responsibilities include issuing warnings about imminent and potential wars, hostile actions, and terrorism (or resistance acts, depending on one’s perspective on the issue). The division works alongside the Mossad, the Shin Bet, and the Intelligence Department of the Israel Police. Additionally, it collaborates with military censorship. The division is led by an officer holding the rank of major general, who oversees personnel across various IDF divisions, including the Central, Northern, and Southern Commands, as well as the Home Front. As of 2024, Major General Aharon Haliva held this position. However, in April 2024, Haliva resigned from the Office of the Israeli Chief of Staff, taking responsibility for the Israeli military’s shortcomings on October 7.

Haliva was succeeded by Major General Shlomi Binder, a former commander of the Galilee (91st) Division and the Golani Brigade, who has taken on the role of the IDF’s new Head of the Intelligence Directorate. Among other responsibilities, the division collaborates with the ‘General Staff Targets Directorate‘, which has its “Targeting Centre” located at the Glilot base, on the outskirts of Tel Aviv. The centre aims to gather intelligence and identify targets for IDF operations during both routine and emergency scenarios. Unit 8200, recognised as one of Israel’s most elite intelligence units, is tasked with the collection of technological communication signals. Meanwhile, Unit 9900 focuses on gathering visual intelligence for various IDF units, and Unit 504 is in charge of organising agents abroad for espionage activities. (source: KIKAR) It is reasonable to believe that the said “Legitimisation Cell” exists and functions within this intelligence apparatus.

Should Yuval Abraham’s assertion turn out to be correct, Israel will have to face the complete repercussions set by the International Criminal Court, as deliberately planning and targeting journalists in a conflict zone represents a serious breach of international law…

IMAGE: A funeral ceremony is held for Palestine TV correspondent Mohammed Abu Hatab, who was killed, along with his family members, in an airstrike on his home in Khan Yunis, Gaza, on November 03, 2023 (Source: Zain Jaafar/AFP)

The Cradle News Desk reports…

Israel’s army formed special intel unit to ‘justify killing’ of hundreds of Gaza journalists

The unit, called the ‘Legitimisation Cell,’ was established by the military intelligence directorate, which includes Unit 8200

Israeli investigative journalist Yuval Abraham said on 11 August that Israel’s military intelligence created a special unit aimed specifically at justifying attacks in Gaza, including the killing of journalists.

His comments came after an Israeli strike assassinated Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif and the outlet’s entire Gaza City crew.

“After 7 October, a team called the ‘Legitimisation Cell’ was established in AMAN,” Abraham said, referring to the Israeli military intelligence directorate, which includes Unit 8200.

“Intelligence personnel searched for information to provide ‘legitimisation’ for the army’s actions in Gaza, failed Hamas launches, use of human shields, and exploitation of the civilian population. A primary mission … was to find Gazan journalists who could be portrayed in the media as Hamas operatives in disguise,” the journalist added.

Abraham confirmed that the goal was to “whitewash the killing of all other journalists” by creating doubt, adding that “entire days were invested in this matter, and they found nothing.”

“I think Israel killed Anas al-Sharif simply because he was a journalist. And for the same reason, international media is prevented from entering Gaza: So that the crimes are seen less,” he went on to say.

Sharif and five other journalists in Al Jazeera’s Gaza City crew were killed on 10 August in an Israeli airstrike on their media tent at Al-Shifa Hospital. The assassinations brought the number of Palestinian journalists killed by Israel since the start of the war up to 238.

Sharif had been covering Israel’s genocidal campaign in Gaza since it started in October 2023. Israel accused him of being a Hamas operative responsible for rocket attacks.

In October last year, Israel published documents which it claimed were proof of Sharif’s affiliation with Hamas’s Qassam Brigades and its East Jabalia battalion. The documents also listed Hossam Shabat, an Al Jazeera reporter accused of Hamas ties, who was killed in an Israeli strike in March.

Last month, Sharif warned that the Israeli army “has launched a campaign of threats and incitement against me because of my work as a journalist with Al Jazeera,” adding, “I, Anas al-Sharif, am a journalist with no political affiliations. My only mission is to report the truth from the ground – as it is, without bias. At a time when a deadly famine is ravaging Gaza, speaking the truth has become, in the eyes of the occupation, a threat.”

See more news from The Cradle

READ MORE PALESTINE NEWS AT: 21st CENTURY WIRE PALESTINE FILES

SUPPORT OUR INDEPENDENT MEDIA PLATFORM – BECOME A MEMBER @21WIRE.TV

VISIT OUR TELEGRAM CHANNEL

21st Century Wire is an alternative news agency designed to enlighten, inform and educate readers about world events which are not always covered in the mainstream media.